Annual Report 2022
Manager's Report (James Baker)
Another year has passed, and it's been great to see the signs that things are returning to normal. Whilst we're not quite there yet - and may never be! - the fact that we can hold an in person AGM again, and that my calendar is once again busy with QSWP events is great. I'd like to start by thanking everyone for their efforts during the past few years - both with the QSWP and in wider Scouting - and I look forward to working alongside all of you again in person over the coming year.
As things do return to normal, we are once again being asked to support a wide range of events all over the country. Hopefully there are some events in there for everyone, though I would encourage you all to step out of your comfort zone and try some events you haven't done before. New events often end up being a lot smaller than more established events, but are a great opportunity to really get to know other members of the QSWP and shape our involvement with the event in the future. It's also these new events where we tend to build up the glowing reputation we currently enjoy, so please do join in and be a part of that.
Following discussions with Gilwell earlier this year, the decision has been taken to remove some of our existing membership requirements. This has previously been communicated and is hopefully something everyone is already aware of. It will be covered in more detail later in the AGM, but in summary we will be removing the age limit on joining, and also removing our "FRIEND" status. You will either be an active member of the QSWP or you won't be a member of the QSWP, and this will simplify our membership system as well as make us more inclusive. As an active member, you will still be expected to attend two events a year.
To accompany the changes, I have been working to rewrite the QSWP Portal and hope it will to launch the new version in the coming weeks. When it launches, the new version is likely to be missing a few features and will probably have some bugs; but it will provide a better platform for building on in the future whilst also significantly reducing our costs. Please bare with us as we fix any issues and roll out new features - and if there are any budding web developers out there that would like to get involved please get in touch!
I was reminded the other day that this year was my 10th year on the committee - having done 3 years as membership coordinator and now 7 as QSWP manager. Looking back over the past 10 years, I'm immensely proud of what we've achieved and excited about what we will continue to achieve over the coming years. We're a very different group to that which I joined back in 2007, and I expect we will continue to change and adapt as the world around us - and Scouting - changes too. Thank you to everyone who has been part of that journey.
On the subject of thank yous, I'd like to finish with a few. Firstly to Phil, who finishes his term as Finance Coordinator this year. Over the past 3 years, Phil has been an invaluable part of the QSWP committee - attending a wide range of events and keeping on top of the money. He's left some big boots to fill, and will definitely be missed. Secondly, I'd like to thank Hayley who finishes her term as Social Coordinator. Hayley has done a fantastic job at keeping the QSWP together during COVID, helping to organise and run no less than 46 quiz evenings alongside a number of other socials both real and virtual. Thirdly, I'd like to thank the other members of the committee - Matthew, Nina and Sarah - who have worked hard behind the scenes to ensure we are asked to support events, have some members to attend them, and are able to tell everyone about them afterwards! And finally (you'll be pleased to know!) a massive thank you to all the members of the QSWP, and in particular those who have so keenly started supporting events again over the past few months!
Finance Report (Phil Jones)
This is my third and final year as treasurer for the QWSP. Although I reported that we had a quiet year last year, this year has been slightly busier but still has not picked back up to full speed.
This year's income has been reduced compared to previous years but has shown signs of recovery. Membership fee income has begun to increase over the course of the year, with a significant number of the 84 renewals occurring towards the later part of the financial year. We are aware this number is down on previous years. However, as we are starting to participate in more events and people are logging into the Portal, they are being triggered to renew.
The majority of the movement in funds this year has been driven by the two Weekend Aways which have taken place within this financial year. Between these two events, they have covered their costs.
An tentative budget has been prepared and is available alongside this year's accounts, we have erred on the side of caution with this budget in terms of income, and we are still able to cover our costs. However, we hope to see a more significant membership fees income, which will give next year's committee more scope for what they can undertake.
Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank the committee and all the QSWP members for the support they have given during my term as the QSWP finance coordinator. It has been a pleasure.
Events Report (Matthew Fox)
This year has seen the returning to normal with Scouting Events and therefore our recommencement of supporting them. Over the last 12 months we have supported County based events including those at Ferny Crofts and Woodhouse Park; along with seeing the welcome return of some member favourites including CarFest South and Festival of Remembrance. This year has also seen members supporting various events linked with World Scout Jamboree Unit Leader Selections and Unit Selections up and down the country. It's also been great to see the "quiz" and "picnic" and "Christmas" socials as well as the two Weekend Aways.
The next year is going to see the number of events increase even further as both Counties and National start to increase the events that they are running. We are already signed up to support 8 events over the summer term including 3 over 1 weekend in June as well as the Day of Celebration and Achievement (Windsor) and Gilwell Reunion. Please make sure that as active members of the QSWP you attend at least two events a year (and most people won't be able to do both Windsor and Remembrance due to the demand for these events and the limited availability of spaces).
As well as thanking you all for supporting the events that QSWP has promoted over the last year, I would like to thank you for your on-going support of Scouting on behalf of all those people that have gained something, learnt something, or enjoyed something because of the work and effort you have put in.
Members Report (Nina Sparks)
Since I took over from Claire as Membership Secretary, Scouting has slowly but surely resumed face to face activities and applications to join the QSWP have been coming in steadily over the year. Over the last 12 months we have welcomed 8 new members, with 5 applications still being processed at the time of writing We currently have 132 Active members and 167 friends according to the Portal, however there are several members who have let their membership lapse in the last two months so that number may be a slight over estimation. We still continue to have representation in all 4 corners of the UK and Austria too!
There are some changes being made to the QSWP Service Agreement this year, which were agreed with Gilwell following a discussion regarding the inclusivity of the QSWP. These have previously been circulated, and have been received well by the majority of QSWP. We hope they will make our NSASU more inclusive and open to larger part of the Scouting community. As events get up and running again, we hope to see many of our members returning to QSWP duties and continuing to support Scouting locally and nationally; along with spreading the word so more members can join our ranks in the coming year.
Social Media Report (Sarah Paget)
A second year of continued COVID-19 restrictions has had an ongoing impact on our Social Media presence. With very few events to report on finding inspiration to keep updating the channels with posts was a challenge.
That said we have maintained a presence and even continued to grow with followers and likes on all three channels. As face-to-face events and opportunities have returned so has the chance to share our recent adventures and our followers have continued to interact with us.
In reviewing the figures its clear that despite the reduction in events, which have almost halved our content output, our followers are still engaged and interested. In fact, we have continued to grow our audience.
The hope is that with 2022 looking more positive with more events and the return of traditional events, like Day of Celebration (Windsor), we should see a return to the previous higher figures of audience interaction that we have seen in the pre-pandemic period.
In 2022 I hope to play with some more content ideas, hopefully using the likes of Instagram Stories more often and sharing a little more in "real time" the types of events we are involved in and what our duties look like. My hope is to not only continue to use our platforms to promote and celebrate top awards but also highlight and advertise what it is we do and we do it.
Everyone who uses social media regularly understands it is an ever evolving beast and I welcome feedback and suggestions for content. We want to keep our presence relevant and interesting; this is only possible by everyone helping to guide and support it. Thank you to those who do already support by sharing, liking, retweeting and even sending photos and videos when you are out and about being QSWP. Please keep this up. I would potentially like to look to nominate someone at each event to help gather content, this worked really well with the team who were at the Tower of London in November.
Please continue to support our social media either by messaging the channels or emailing the social media e-mail.
Below is the break down of the analytics for all three social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) for the period of April 2021 to March 2022.
| Period | Tweets | Impressions (Overall Total) | Followers/Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-2021 Figures | 327 (+43) |
45k impressions 3.7k average p/q |
989 (+68) |
| Apr - Jun 2021 | 7 | 9.5k | +25 |
| Jul - Sept 2021 | 8 | 8k | +2 |
| Oct - Dec 2021 | 8 | 4.5k | +11 |
| Jan - Mar 2022 | 7 | 5.8k | +9 |
| 2021-2022 Totals | 357 (+30) | 28.5k impressions 7k average p/q |
1042 (+47) |
There was a total of 2617 profile visits.
Top Tweets 2021-2022
| Tweet | Impressions | Engagements | Retweets / Likes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huge congratulations to 2021's new Queen's Scouts. We hope you found a way to celebrate today. You should be incredibly proud of your achievements! Hopefully we can see you at Windsor for our national #DayofCelebration in the future. (Photos 2019) | 1839 | 310 | 1 / 33 |
| A real face to face event! A working weekend with Woodhouse Park Campsite turning their undergrowth back into their Adventure Course. #GoodforYou #Scouts #adventure | 2367 | 138 | 1 / 15 |
| Today we held not one but three socials simultaneously!! So exciting to have our members face to face again. Thoroughly British picnics were held in Southampton, Liverpool & Perth. #qswp #qswp_uk #QSWPonTour #scouts #community #FaceToFace #qswpsocial #QSWPpicnic2021 | 2799 | 212 | 0 / 18 |
| This morning 10 members of QSWP volunteered to support the British Empire Medal Investiture held at @TowerOfLondon Congratulations to the awardee's. @RoyalFamily @scouts #TopAwards #volunteering | 1282 | 200 | 1 / 23 |
| Date | Posts | Likes | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 - 2016 | 19 | 195 | - |
| 2016 - 2017 | 7 | 248 | +53 |
| 2017 - 2018 | 9 | 284 | +36 |
| 2018 - 2019 | 23 | 345 | +61 |
| 2019 - 2020 | 14 | 411 | +66 |
| 2020 - 2021 | 21 | 480 | +69 |
| 2021 - 2022 | 23 | 519 | +39 |
| Total to 31/03/2022 | 519 | ||
Top Facebook Posts 2021-2022
| Post | Reach | Clicks | Reactions, comments and shares |
|---|---|---|---|
|
An exciting opportunity for ten members of QSWP, who gave their time this morning to supporting and stewarding the British Empire Medal Investiture at Tower of London Congratulations to the awardees! |
1.7k | 272 | 125 |
|
A This weekend our team have been out and about at their first face to face event in quite a while! A work weekend at Woodhouse Park Activity Centre making the Adventure Course ready for action. Lots of hard work but we think that course looks amazing. Well done team! |
1.5k | 185 | 72 |
| Happy Founders Day to all our members and supporters and Happy World Thinking Day to our Girlguiding sisters. | 840 | 37 | 56 |
| From all of QSWP Congratulations to HM The Queen on her Platinum Jubilee! | 667 | 7 | 47 |
| Date | Posts | Followers | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - 2020 | 22 | 161 | - |
| 2020 - 2021 | 26 | 191 | +30 |
| 2021 - 2022 | 16 | 229 | +38 |
| Total to 31/03/2022 | 229 | ||
Top Instagram Posts 2021-2022
| Date | Post | Likes | Impressions | Reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/03/2022 | Today out team supported @fernycrofts with their Mud Run. Lots of mud, wet sponges and paint was to be found flying around as our crew encouraged the 600 participants of all ages to take part in the course. | 19 | 200 | 163 |
| 12/11/2021 | An exciting day for ten members of QSWP support todays British Empire Medal Investiture held @thetoweroflondon | 25 | 253 | 232 |
| 10/11/2021 | A flash back to last weekend where we had a lot of fun supporting @fernycrofts wih their Mud Run. We supported the course by marshalling and supervising the obstacles. We even got involved in throwing water, sponges and paint at the participants who ranged from squirrels to leaders. We hope everyone had has much fun as we did! |
14 | 193 | 160 |
| 02/06/2022 | As it's #VolunteerWeek we're asking our members - What makes volunteering with QSWP #GoodForYou? "I keep volunteering with QSWP because I enjoy spending time with friends doing something that we all enjoy doin. There is the feeling of happiness and pride when you help a Beaver Scout cook their first camp doughnut on an open fire…." |
9 | 178 | 162 |
Social Report (Hayley Butterworth)
Normal service resumes... almost! This past year has seen the return of the Annual Weekend Away - not once, but twice!
Last September we stayed at Rough Close in Coventry for Weekend Away 2021. We had 17 members and friends attend for the usual fun and frolics. Due to the ongoing pandemic, we camped rather than sleeping indoors and didn't have the usual black tie dinner. An excellent time was still had boat driving and big wheeling in Stratford, having Tea and Cake at Baddesley Clinton National Trust, and taking on Escape Rooms in Coventry (with only one team escaping!).
This February, 16 of us stayed at John's Lee Wood in Leicestershire for Weekend Away 2022. This time we visited the National Space Centre, did some geocaching, and Sarah and James (who were our informal hosts) arranged an axe throwing session. This year we felt able to return to indoor accommodation, and we had a Korean-inspired Black Tie Dinner. Another fantastic weekend away.
Aside from the two Weekends Away, we've continued to run the virtual Pub Quiz socials via Zoom and have now done 46 quizzes. We're also running an in-person pub quiz after the AGM so please do get involved! The quizzes have been a great way to include members near and far but numbers have been dwindling since the world reopened so the future of the quizzes is unclear; but they will become less frequent for now.
Lastly, we managed some simultaneous local socials; QSWP picnics last August in Liverpool, Southampton and Central Belt Scotland, and Christmas Socials (dubbed "Jingle Bowls") in Southampton, London and Birmingham.
I've loved my time being social coordinator, and hope you've had some fun along the way. A big thanks to the committee members of the last few years, especially James, and good luck to the next Social Coordinator.